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Raccoons can wreak havoc on pear trees. To keep the pears produced by your trees for yourself instead of letting them go to the bellies of marauding raccoons, you need to take measures to discourage raccoons from your yard and trees. There are several options for keeping these pests at bay.

Bird Netting

Just as bird netting keeps birds out of fruit trees, it can also be effective to discourage raccoons from climbing into your pear trees. According to Sloat Gardens, raccoons do not like to get tangled in the netting and will avoid your trees. Wait until after the fruit sets to cover your pear trees with the netting to ensure that the flowers are properly pollinated.

Keeping Raccoons Out of Yard

To keep raccoons out of your pear trees, you should discourage them from your yard. If raccoons do not get into your yard, they cannot eat your pears. One way to do this is to remove sources of water from your yard that raccoons might use to wash their food. You should also lock your garbage cans in the garage and bring pet food inside at night. Granular repellents to keep raccoons out of the yard will prevent raccoons from traveling across your grass to get to your pear trees, but you cannot use them on the pear trees themselves.

Fencing

Electric fencing around the area where your pear trees are growing can discourage raccoons from climbing into your trees. Double-wire fences with the lowest wire 6 inches from the ground are best. You can shut off the fence during the day because raccoons are nocturnal. Do not use an electric fence if you let your dogs out in your yard at night.

Dog

Las Pilitas Nursery recommends a large dog to scare away raccoons. Unless you have a dog that has been bred and trained for hunting, it will most likely not catch the raccoon but keep it away from your pear trees. Do not rely on small dogs to scare away raccoons because they could get hurt by an irate raccoon. Be sure that your pet's vaccinations are up to date, especially rabies.

Wire Screening

Blocking out places that raccoons eat or sleep can keep them from your yard and farther away from your pear trees. Wire screening placed over any open ponds will keep raccoons out of these areas where they might feed on your pond fish. This discourages them from coming into the yard. Wire mesh placed around the base of structures like tool sheds, pier-and-beam houses and garages blocks these areas off from being used as raccoon dens. Be sure to bury the bottom of the mesh at least 6 inches into the ground to keep raccoons from digging under it.